New Delhi: The Congress has reacted with caution to Jayanthi Natarajan’s stinging allegations against party vice president Rahul Gandhi.
Party leader Sanjay Nirupam said the timing of the episode suggests that it is a political conspiracy to malign the Congress ahead of assembly elections in Delhi, adding that if Natarajan had any problem as environment minister she could have spoken to SonIa Gandhi then.
“If somebody is planning to leave the party, she has to blame Rahul ji, otherwise there would not be any logic for it,” he said while speaking to a news channel.
On Jayanthi’s allegations of interference by Rahul Gandhi in the environment ministry, Nirupam said be it the Vedanta mine issue or the issue of Bhatta Parsaul farmers, Rahul Gandhi has always been fighting for the rights of tribals.
Arguing that Rahul Gandhi has been always concerned about environment, Nirupam said that the Congress vice president could have spoken to Natarajan or other ministers and it was not a big deal.
Nirupam alleged that Natarajan had made the allegations as she was about to join the new political outfit floated by GK Vasan in Tamil Nadu.
Nirupam’s party colleague, PC Chacko said, “These are baseless allegations, if somebody wants to resign from the party for personal reasons they are free to do so... Making such wild allegations is unfair.”
However, Tamil Nadu Congress chief EVKS Elangovan decided to play it safe. He said that the Congress High Command should respond to the allegations. “...this has to be replied by the Congress high command and they are the best people to deny or respond to the charges.”
